Chapter 1 Key Terms Flashcards
Adaptation
Process in which species become structurally, physiologically and behaviorally adapted to a particular environment over time.
Amino acid
small subunits whose chains make up proteins and are linked by peptide bonds, a chemical bond.
Carbohydrate
Compound made of CHO and is divided into subunits made of sugars called monosaccharide (single sugar, e.g. glucose). Carbs are an important source of energy for living organisms.
Cell theory (definition and state)
A theory based on microscopic and experimental studies of tissue of organisms over the last 300 years.
- All living organisms are made of cells or cell products.
- All cells come from pre-existing cells.
- A cell is the smallest living organizational unit.
Classification
(scientific) hierarchy of names that includes all organisms (to allow accurate and efficient communication between scientists).
Control group
A second experiment set up under the same conditions as the first, except that the independent variable is also kept constant.
Controlled experiment
An experiment that allows scientists to test one variable at a time to test a hypothesis.
Cytoplasm
The contents of a cell, other than the nucleus.
Cytosol
The fluid component of cytoplasm, in which organelles are located.
Dependent variable
What is measured when the independent variable changes.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
Genetic material in organisms
Evolution
A concept that live on Earth has changed over time.
Experimental group
A single variable is changed and the dependent variable is measured. Controlled (fixed) variables are kept constant.
Hypothesis
A possible explanation/ educated guess based on observations that can be used to make predictions that can be tested experimentally.
Independent variable
The variable that the experimenter is testing and is changed by the experimenter.
Lipid
‘Fatty’ substances which are important as energy storing molecules.
Natural selection
The concept that individuals with features most suited to their environment are likely to survive and produce more offspring than those with less favorable features.
Nitrogen fixation
The process in which atmospheric nitrogen is trapped by certain bacteria and converted into compounds that can be used by plants.
Nucleic acid
Genetic material of all organisms
What are the two types of nucleic acids and what are their functions?
DNA- carried ‘instructions’ required to assemble proteins from amino acid subunits using a genetic code.
RNA- plays major role in the manufacture of protein within cells.
Organic compound
Compounds with a C-H bond.
Organism
An individual animal, plant of single-celled life form.
pH
A measure of acidity and alkalinity.
Phylogeny
The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms.
Plasma membrane
Outer membrane that encloses cell organelles, and the fluid contents of a cell.
Principle/ Theory
A hypothesis that is supported by many results and proves to be accurate.
Protein
Thousands of different types, contains CHON and is made of amino acids.
Scientific method
Experimental approach to the study of science.
Surface tension
Bonds between surface molecules
